Equating the word 'fundamentalists' with 'extremists' in referring to Muslims who perform acts of violence and those who appear to interpret the Quran literally and justify acts of violence and inhumane suppression, is a gross injustice to the peaceful religion of Islam.

The fundamentals of Islam are the basic teachings of Islam. The basic teachings of Islam forbid its followers from any two extremes - neither to the extreme left nor the extreme right. Rather, it is the religion of the middle path and its followers are called "people of the middle path." This religion of the middle path forbids murders and suicides, which are a total departure from its fundamentals. Suicide for the cause of Islam is not part of its fundamentals nor even in its periphery.

If the West say that they respect Islam and that they are not declaring a war against Islam, then they must rectify this great error since if you equate the fundamentals of a religion with extremism, then there can be no real respect for the religion.

In reality, you would hope that Muslims do not practise the fundamentals of their religion to avoid extreme behaviour. In essence, Islam becomes an enemy that needs to be tamed and dominated and perhaps, the religion even rectified.

The usage of the words 'Muslim' and 'Islamic' needs also to be clearly distinguished. Muslims are the people who embrace the religion of Islam. They are not Islamic. The actions of Muslims need not necessarily be Islamic - meaning that they are in accordance with the basic tenets of Islam.

Hence, the actions of Muslims who perform acts of terror are not Islamic in nature, far from it. Rather, they are actions of a desperate people who are motivated and driven by extreme rage as a result of being marginalised by socio-political circumstances. Their choice to commit suicide, which is counter to Islamic teachings, represents their anger turned inwards and not only towards America and its allies.

What extremist Muslims, Christians, and Hindus do should not be equated with their respective religions. Hence, the need to distinguish the extreme actions of followers from the fundamentals of their religion.

So, please stop equating Islamic fundamentals with extremism and Islam itself with extremists and terrorists!